Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rutgers
Rutgers Tops Princeton In Men's Lacrosse
April 09, 2005 | Men's Lacrosse
April 9, 2005
Final Stats
Piscataway - Austin Rodgers scored with one second remaining in the third quarter and Dan Achatz scored nine seconds into the fourth quarter to key Rutgers to an 8-5 win over Princeton in a men's lacrosse game played in front of 1,854 at Yurcak Field Saturday afternoon.
The win was Rutgers' first over Princeton since 1989. It also earned the Scarlet Knights the Tots Meistrell Cup, given to the winner of the annual game between the New Jersey rivals. Harland [Tots] Meistrell revived the sport of lacrosse first at Rutgers in 1919 and then at Princeton in 1920.
The game was the 83rd between the schools in a series that dates to 1888. Princeton fell to 1-6 overall, while Rutgers is now 4-5.
"You have to give Rutgers a lot of credit," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney. "They really played hard. They went after ground balls, and if they didn't get them, they stayed after us. They really wanted this one, and they earned it."
The key stretch of the game was the 10-second span from the very end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth. Rutgers led 5-4 as the third quarter was reaching its conclusion, but Rodgers converted off a scramble in front of the cage to double the lead to 6-4 with one second on the clock.
It was the seventh time this season that Princeton has allowed a goal in the final 10 seconds of a quarter.
Rutgers' Dan Melanson then won the face-off to start the fourth quarter and passed the ball ahead to Dan Achatz, who went straight to the goal and scored to make it 7-4.
Rutgers would build its lead to 8-4 and then control almost all of the clock for the final quarter. Melanson won 10 of 16 face-offs for the day as the Knights had a huge edge in possession time. Jason Doneger scored twice for Princeton, including one with 3:58 to go to make it 8-5. The Tigers would not have possession in the offensive end the rest of the way.
Princeton led 2-1 on first quarter goals by Whitney Hayes and Peter Trombino, who now has at least one point in all 22 games of his career. Trombino's goal came on an assist from Trip Cowin, giving Cowin his first career point.
Trombino's goal came with six seconds left in the quarter, but Princeton would not score again for the next 19:23. Still, the game was a total defensive struggle by both teams, and Rutgers was able to manage only a Colin Checcio goal with 1:21 remaining before intermission to tie at 2-2 at the half.
Doneger's first goal came four minutes into the third, but RU would score the next three to go up 5-3. Mike Gaudio answered for Princeton with his ninth of the season, but the goals from Rodger and Achatz killed any momentum Princeton might have had.
Princeton outshot Rutgers 32-27. Greg Havalchuk made 10 saves for the Knights, nine of which came in the second half. Alex Hewit made seven saves for Princeton in his second career start before giving way to Dave Law for the final eight minutes.
"We're working hard," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney. "They're good kids, and they want to work. They're trying hard. We're just not scoring. When you hold teams to eight goals, seven goals, whatever, you should win those games. We're not throwing the ball in the goal."
The good news is that Princeton can still win at least a share of the Ivy League championship by winning its final four league games.
Princeton hosts Harvard next Saturday (April 16) and then faces Butler next Sunday.